New Adelaide recruit Mark Keane says he is already taking plenty of learnings from working closely alongside two key defenders at the Club.

The Irishman and former Collingwood defender joined the Crows last month after signing with the Club as part of the AFL’s pre-season supplemental signing (SSP) period.

And speaking to the media after ticking off his first week of pre-season training on Friday, Keane said Crows defenders Tom Doedee and Nick Murray had been guiding him as he worked on his craft.

“I like the way Tom Doedee sits back and takes intercept marks and Nick Murray’s physicality,” Keane said.

“When I was at Collingwood, that’s where I was playing, as a key position player.

“That’s what I would’ve prided myself on when I was at the Pies - taking intercept marks and using that spoil as well to get it out of the danger zone.

“It’s been a week but hopefully I can keep going from there.”

“I like the way Tom Doedee sits back and takes intercept marks and Nick Murray’s physicality.

Keane, 22, returned to Australia to resume his AFL career after playing five games in three years for the Magpies from 2019 to 2021.

He was contracted to Collingwood for 2022 but decided to remain in Ireland for the past 12 months.

Keane, who won an All-Ireland junior club hurling medal a week before signing with the Crows, said he couldn’t be happier being back in Australia.

“It’s absolutely unbelievable to be back in such a good, relaxed country,” Keane said.

“We managed to win and then eight or nine days later I was over here playing footy. 

“I went back home during Covid to see family but now since the whole world has opened up my partner and my parents are able to come back over here again, too.

“It’s definitely a lot quieter living here (compared to Melbourne), less traffic as well, that’s kind of it.”

The 194cm backman said he was impressed by Crows Senior Coach Matthew Nicks and was keen to work hard to earn the respect of his teammates.

“I’ve only been here a week so I’m just trying to learn everything here at the Club and see where it goes from there, I’ll get a better gauge over that in the next few weeks,” Keane said.

“(Nicks) is really good. I had a few zoom calls with him before I came over and he’s really invested and a really good people’s person.

“It would be everyone's goal to play a lot of footy this year but as I said I missed a lot of pre-season, so I’m just trying to work my way back up to where I was at Collingwood.”